Struggling to meet the federal requirements mandated by the renewal of the Higher Education Act, online colleges have been searching for new ways to prevent cheating. The law requires online colleges to verify that the person completing the coursework is the person that is enrolled in the class, no easy task for courses that rely on chatroom discussions and emailed assignments.
Some online colleges are now requiring students to find their own proctors. They take tests under the watchful eyes of local librarians or test center employees. But, this proccess can be burdensome for students that choose online learning for the freedom to study at home, during non-business hours.
That's why the idea of a digital proctor makes sense. The new Digital Proctor company has developed a software program that can verify the identity of a student based on the student's unique typing pattern. According to Converge Magazine at least two online schools have already signed up for their services. The type-pattern monitoring allows a student to complete assignments and exams from home without the invasive monitoring methods (i.e. webcam viewing or fingerprint scanning) that some students worried about.
Proctoring may be necessary to ensure the reputation of online learning. But, if the concept of digital monitoring proves successful, online students may be able to keep the convenience of virtual education without sacrificing the reputation of the industry.
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